The officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, have intercepted donkey skins, vehicles, and other items worth N1.24 billion in October.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, made the disclosure at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Ejibunu said the donkey skins from Kaduna State were intercepted along Onigari in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He noted that the 730 sacks of hide and skin hidden were intercepted in a 1×40 container equivalent to 5,033 pieces.

Ejibunu said the unit had resolved to protect the Nigeria’s economy by enforcing the anti-smuggling laws in an uncompromising manner.

He added that they had deployed improved logistics supplied by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to achieve this feat as being reflected in the seizures made.

Ejibunu said intelligence reports gathered over the years indicated higher degree of desperation by economic saboteurs to smuggle during the yuletide periods, but the unit is up to the task.

READ ALSO: Customs intercepts N1.76bn foreign rice, petrol, used clothes

The Customs official said: “I want to state that this unit of the service under my watch will make the remaining part of 2023 and beyond tough for smugglers in the interest of our country.

“We are ready to intercept them and frustrate their antics of concealment, illegal route passage, false declaration and under declaration.

“We are also determined to implement all the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, including the various penalties attached to offences while striving to ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the laws.”

Ejibunu added that rice had been a recurring commodity in their list of seizures across various borders in the South-West region of the country, saying the Customs officers seized a total of 7,383 units of 50kg for bed rice from smugglers which amount to almost 13 trailer loads of rice

He said: “A total of 17 vehicles were also seired from smugglers who wanted to circumvent the law by evading duty payment.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the ban on vehicle importation through land borders subsists.

“Our officers also intercepted 593 jerrycans (14,825 litres) of premium motor spirit Because of the volatility of this product, we have safely disposed of them in line with laid down due process.”

He listed other seizures to include 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202 kg) parcels of hemp, 39 bales of second hand-clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, 4 units of used motorcycle, and 600 cartons of GIV soap.

Ejibunu said nine suspects involved in the act were arrested, adding that scores of others were undergoing trial in the court.

The Customs official, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the unit with credible information that would assist in battling economic sabotage.

The Star